Blast-proof building

ABSTRACT

A blast-proof building having one or more stories, each story comprising one or more rows of internal supports and having walls and a ceiling comprises of: (a) one or more intermediate &#34;L&#34; shaped components defining a wall portion and a ceiling portion, each corner of the free end of the-ceiling portion being carried by a support; (b) four or more corner components defining two wall portions and a co-joining ceiling portion, the free corner of the ceiling portion being carried by a support; and (c) one or more ceiling components for placement between each row of supports where there are a plurality of rows of supports; each component being secured to a neighboring component. The building meets the criteria of blast-proof protection, speed of erection, flexibility of size and demountability.

PRIOR ART

This invention relates to a blast-proof building.

Buildings that are blast-proof to at least a certain extent against e.g.car-bombs, mortar and rocket attack, hereinafter termed "blast-proofbuildings", are required in certain locations and/or for certainreasons, e.g. because of a terrorist threat. Such buildings must meetcertain criteria, e.g. blast-proof protection, speed of erection.flexibility of size, demountability. One known building comprises aseries of concrete cubes, suitably joined together. However, the maximumroom size is constrained by the maximum size of cube possible. Also,construction and deconstruction can only be carried out cube by cube.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate thesedisadvantages, whilst still matching the required criteria.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided ablast-proof building having one or more stories, or each storeycomprising one or more rows of internal supports and having walls and aceiling comprised of:

(a) one or more intermediate "L" shaped components defining a wallportion and a ceiling portion, each corner of the free end of theceiling portion being carried by a support;

(b) four or more corner components defining two wall portions and aco-joining ceiling portion, the free corner of the ceiling portion beingcarried by a support and

(c) one or more ceiling components for placement between each row ofsupports where there are a plurality of rows of supports;

each component being secured to its neighbouring components.

Thus the walls and ceiling of the building of the present invention aremodular, i.e. easily and quickly constructable and deconstructable. Eachcomponent is preferably integral and precast, and thus immediately readyfor erection. The size and number of rows of the supports and the sizeand number of each type of component may be varied over wide limits toprovide substantial flexibility in the size and shape of the building.Moreover, as the components form a shell, they provide completeflexibility for any desired or necessary internal spacing arrangements.The internal division of space may be made e.g. by stud walls.

The supports are preferably stanchions. The supports can form the`spines` of the building. Two rows of supports can be locatedsymmetrically along the centre of the building to provide a frame for acorridor. Intermediate components extending from each row of suchsupports can provide room space on each side of the corridor.

Further rows of supports can be included to increase the size of thebuilding. A multi-storey building may be formed by adding onto theceiling of each storey the same components as described hereinbefore,with either supports of sufficient height or separate tiers of supports.If necessary or desired, further supports may be added to the building,e.g. to assist carrying the components or to assist division of anyinternal spacing requirement.

Access points, e.g. doors, can be included within the wall portions ofeither the intermediate components or the corner components. Ifnecessary or desired, blastlocks can be included behind each accesspoint.

Windows can also be included with the wall portions of either theintermediate components or the corner components. Preferably, thewindows are replaceable by hardened blanks when not desired ornecessary.

The inside of each portion of the ceiling, intermediate and cornercomponents that form part of the outside of the building (some parts ofwhich will not where there is a multi-storey building) may besteel-lined to prevent spalling of the inside of these outerwallsfollowing a blast thereagainst, and thus to assist prevention of damageto the contents of the building.

Parts of some or all of the components may also have a double-skinconstruction comprising (steel) plates on both the outside and inside ofsuch parts. The inside plate may be the spalling plate described above.Bolts or studs such as shear studs can connect the two plates. The outerplate(s) take at least some of the stress (upon impact of the building)normally taken by the inside plate(s). The double-skin construction isparticularly suitable for use across the outside facing joints of thebuilding, which may be its weakest points. Additional splice plateslocated over outside facing joints can connect the two outside plates ofadjacent components, and can thus transfer stress across the break inthe outer plates. Transferring stress across the break can assistpreservation of the joint upon impact of the building.

At least some of the edges of the components, especially the major edgesof intermediate and corner components, are preferably toothed or of amortise and tenon configuration to assist securing them together. Therelevant edges may have steel pieces thereon which have integral orwelded teeth or mortise(s) and tenon(s). Above and below the jointssplice plates may be welded.

More preferably, the relevant edges of the components have steel shearkey plates thereon. The plates have two or more lines of parallel butintermittent teeth which interlock with complementary teeth on therelevant edge of an adjoining component to provide a reverse-action,intermittent halving joint. On each plate the teeth of each linepreferably do not overlap with the teeth of adjacent line(s). The teethof such a joint can be subjected to force in one direction only, i.e.they are not subjected to damaging stress reversal on any rebound of thecomponents. Some components, possibly the final component(s) to befitted, may only have one or more continuous outstanding edges needed tofit or slot between complementary edging on the adjacent components.Such complementary edging may be widened teeth.

The joints and any additional plates provide a portal framework so thata force on any component is transferred uniformly throughout the wholebuilding, thereby distributing the force of any blast or impact. Extraplate(s) welded over the external part of each joint assist transversedistribution of any force.

A stand-off structure comprising a steel and mesh framework supporting aprotective cover is preferably located around the whole building, with aberm, e.g. of concrete blocks, therearound. The building is preferablylocated on a pre-cast foundation to assist speed of erection. Thebuilding may be used to provide a secure base or housing, e.g. foressential or military equipment or soldiers.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda blas-tproof building of one or more stories, the or each storeycomprising one or more supports and either four corner components, eachdefining two wall portions and a co-joining ceiling portion, or twohalf-shell components defining between them the walls and ceiling ofeach storey, the supports carrying the ceiling portions of thecomponents, and the components secured to their neighbour(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample only and with reference to the accompanying diagrammaticdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the building of FIG. 1 with asurrounding stand-off structure and berm;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a building according toa second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an intermediate component of a building of thepresent invention showing means for securing it to another component,and a double skin construction; and

FIG. 5 is a part section of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a single storey blast-proofbuilding 2 having two rows of steel stanchions 4,6, around which thereare:

(a) four "wide" intermediate "L" shaped components 8 and two "thin"intermediate "L" shaped components 10, the corners of the free ends ofwhich are being carried by the stanchions 4,6;

(b) four corner components 12, the free corners of which are beingcarried by the corner stanchions 4,6; and

(c) two ceiling components 14 between the stanchions 4,6, and beingcarried thereby.

The size and number of rows of stanchions 4,6, and the size and numberof components 8,10,12,14 may be varied to create any sized building. Thecomponents 8,10,12,14 are pre-cast reinforced concrete, e.g. 300 mmthick. The layout of the stanchions 4,6 allows a corridor to be createdthereby if desired.

Each component 8,10,12,14 is secured to its neighbour, e.g. as shown inFIG. 4 herewith, and to the stanchions 4,6. Doors 16 in one of the wallportions of two of the corner components 12 provide access into thebuilding 2.

In FIG. 2. the building 2 is surrounded by a stand-off structure 18comprising a steel framework and mesh, supporting a plastic coatedprofile steel cover. The stand-off structure 18 is preferably one meterfrom the building 2, and may be in part supported thereby. The stand-offstructure 18 is designed to absorb some of the kinetic energy of theforce of a blast or a projectile thereagainst. A berm 20 of concreteblocks surrounds the base of the stand-off 18 to assist protectionagainst e.g. car-bombs.

FIG. 2 also shows (diagrammatically) a steel lining 17 on the inside ofcomponents 8,14 to assist the prevention of spalling of the concretesides of the components 8,14 upon any impact or blast against thebuilding 2. The foundations for the building 2 et al in FIG. 2 are notshown. A possible second is shown in dotted line. The second story couldcomprise the same components as used for the ground floor, located onthe ceiling of the ground floor. Each floor may have its own stanchions,or the stanchions may be twice as high.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a two story building 22having one row of extended stanchions 24, and two layers of intermediatecomponents 26 and corner components (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a side view of an intermediate component 8 of FIG. 1. Alongthe steel lined adjacent edges of the wall section 28 and the ceilingsection 30 are two lines of parallel but intermittent teeth 32,34. Theteeth 32,34 of each line do not overlap the teeth 32,34 of the otherline. The edges of another intermediate component or corner component tobe located against the first component 8 have two lines of complementaryteeth such that the two components may be fitted slidingly together andthe interlocking teeth form a reverse-action intermittent halving joint.On either or both sides of the joints steel plates may be fitted (e.g.welded) to shield the joint.

FIG. 5 shows a part section of the wall section 28 and teeth 32,34 withthe complementary teeth 36, 38 (in shading) of an adjacent component.Any blast or impact on the building causing e.g. movement in direction Aof the wall section 28 would create a force only on half of the teeth 36of the next component, i.e. those behind first line of teeth 32. Anyrebound of the wall section 28 would cause only the second line of teeth34 to act on the other half of the teeth 38 of the next component. Forceis therefore only possible in one direction on each tooth, such thatdamaging stress reversal is avoided.

The edges of the final component(s) to be fitted to a building of thepresent invention may have continuous outstanding edges designed to slotbetween edging as shown in FIG. 4 having a space between the lines ofteeth.

The remaining edge 40 of the component 8 in FIG. 4 has a flat steelpiece thereon. This edge 40 simply abuts a corresponding edge of anothercomponent. In the building 2 of FIG. 1, the ceiling components 14 maythus be simply lowered into place once the other components 8, 10, 12are fitted together.

The component 8 in FIG. 4 also has an inner steel lining 17, and anouter steel lining 42 extending part-way from the `remaining` edge 40.This part of the ceiling section 30 of the component 8 thus has a`double skin` construction. The shear studs (not shown) that secure theinner lining 17 extend through the ceiling section 30 to secure theouter lining 42 also. The outer lining 42 is designed to take at leastsome of any stress or force acting on the inner lining 17. Once the`remaining` edge 40 abuts an adjacent component, a steel plate 44 may bewelded across the joint. The plate 44 not only provides some directprotection for the joint, but it can also transfer stress across thebreak in the outer plates 42. The inner lining 17 is welded to the topof a stanchion 46.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from thescope of the invention described above.

The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of theinvention, it being understood that other variants and embodimentsthereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, thelatter being defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A blast-proof building having one or morestories, each story comprising one or more rows of internal supports andan internal space having walls and a ceiling comprised of:one or moreintermediate "L"-shaped components defining a wall portion and a ceilingportion having corners and a free end, each corner of the free end ofthe ceiling portion being carried by a support; four or more cornercomponents defining two wall portions and a co-joining ceiling portion,a free corner of the co-joining ceiling portion being carried by asupport; and one or more ceiling components for placement between eachrow of supports where there are a plurality of rows of supports; eachcomponent being secured to a neighboring component.
 2. A building asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each component is integral and precast.
 3. Abuilding as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal space of thebuilding is divided by one or more walls.
 4. A building as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the supports are stanchions.
 5. A building as claimedin claim 1 wherein two rows of supports are located symmetrically toprovide a frame for a corridor.
 6. A building as claimed in claim 1,which includes more than one story wherein each story apart from aground floor story is located on a ceiling of a ground floor story andincludes supports of a sufficient height for supporting all the storiesas well as separate supports for each of the stories.
 7. A building asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the building includes at least one accesspoint and includes at least one window replaceable by hardened blanks.8. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inside of one or more ofthe components has a lining to prevent spalling.
 9. A building asclaimed in claim 1, wherein at least a part of one or more of thecomponents has a double-skin construction comprising outer and innerconnected plates having joints therebetween and one or more of thejoints between such components have a splice plate thereover to connectthe outer plates of adjacent components.
 10. A building as claimed inclaim 8, wherein the lining is made from steel.
 11. A building asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the lining is made from steel.
 12. Abuilding as claimed in claim 1, wherein some of the edges of thecomponents have a toothed configuration.
 13. A building as claimed inclaim 12, wherein said edges have steel pieces thereon to which theteeth are integral.
 14. A building as claimed in claim 12, wherein theteeth on each steel piece are arranged in two or more parallel butintermittent lines adapted to interlock with complementary teeth on anadjacent component.
 15. A building as claimed in claim 13, wherein theteeth on each steel piece are arranged in two or more parallel butintermittent lines adapted to interlock with complementary teeth on anadjacent component.
 16. A building as claimed in claim 15, wherein oneach plate the teeth of each line are not overlapped with the teeth ofan adjacent line.
 17. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein astand-off structure beam is located around the building.
 18. Ablast-proof building having at least one story, as claimed in claim 1,in which each story comprises only four corner components.
 19. Ablast-proof building as claimed in claim 1, comprising two half-shellcomponents defining between them the walls and ceiling of a story, thesupports carrying the ceiling portions of the components and thecomponents are secured to an adjoining component.
 20. A blast-proofbuilding as claimed in claim 6, comprising two half-shell componentsdefining between them the walls and ceiling of a story, the supportscarrying the ceiling portions of the components and the components aresecured to an adjoining component.